Forum The birth

Who has experience with giving birth using a balloon?

3 replies

wolkje78
I'm currently pregnant with our second baby. Our first was born prematurely at 32 weeks via C-section.
I was in the hospital at 33 weeks on contraction inhibitors. Now, on Sunday, I'll be exactly 41 weeks pregnant, and I'm being admitted to the hospital late Sunday afternoon.
They want to induce labor using a balloon catheter. I have no dilation or anything at all.
Has anyone here had experience with this? Was it bearable or tough?
I'm really dreading it now—fear, stress, blah blah blah.

Replies

  1. kimjoy #2

    Hi Wolkje,

    I have experience with the balloon catheter and I found it absolutely terrible!!!!
    For more info, you can read my birth story!

    Love, Kim

  2. Sanne #3

    Hi Wolkje,

    My sister also started her labor that way, because everything was still very tight, and she didn't find it unpleasant at all. She had the balloon in overnight and then had enough dilation to be hooked up to the drip to induce contractions. I think it varies from person to person...

    Best,

    Sanne

  3. Anne #4

    Hi Wolkje,

    I have experience with having a balloon inserted. My labor wasn't progressing despite having contractions, so the balloon was a solution...

    I didn't find it unpleasant. They insert an empty balloon and fill it once it's in place. You do feel it when they fill the balloon, and some women told me they found it quite uncomfortable. You feel the filled balloon for the first quarter hour, after which you don't feel it anymore. At least, I didn't feel it anymore... so don't worry too much about it and just go with it. The more relaxed you are, the less you'll feel. Who knows, labor might start on its own before that time anyway

    Lots of success!!!

    Love,
    Anne

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